‘Copenhagen outcome will not affect China’s carbon target’

China, the world’s largest carbon emitter, would hold up its voluntary carbon cut target regardless
of the result of Copenhagen meeting that may fall short of sealing a deal for developed nations to reduce their emissions, said China’s envoy.

Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Zhang Qiyue said Monday China had no strings attached in setting its carbon emissions target of 40-45 percent below the 2005 levels by 2020 for energy used versus economic output, adding that the target realization did not presume any financial assistance from developed countries.

“We hope the meeting will produce some positive outcomes although the main issue has not
been addressed. However, our bold mitigation measures will not be affected by the result of the
conference; We will take this bold measure despite the outcome [and] our measures [will be] taken
without any conditions attached,” she said.

Zhang said Beijing has worked closely with other developing nations, including Indonesia, to defend their interests that have been in jeopardy with the reluctance of developed nations to strike a binding deal for significant reductions targets.

“China is part of G77... and we share lots of common position, have had very close consultations with all these developing countries and these consultation are still going on at this moment,” he said.
China has lashed out at developed nations for seeking a “measurable and reportable” carbon cut commitment from developing countries but stopped short of setting out their own target.

Indonesia recently announced their voluntary carbon cut rate of 26 percent by 2020 using the state’s budget and by 41 percent if developed nations provided assistance. The world’s second largest emitter, the United States, has offered to reduce his country’s emissions by 17 percent by 2020 from 2005 level.

“The main hurdles in striking a deal in the Copenhagen meeting rest with the developed nations that have reversed their positions on mitigation, financing and technology transfer while wanting developing nations to carry out measurable and reportable voluntary mitigation acts,” said Zhang.

Zhang said China had adopted a number of measures to reach their targets including lowering its energy consumption, reducing pollution by shutting down small-thermal power generation units, phasing out environmentally unfriendly steel-making and cement production capacities, all the while increasing its wind, hydro and nuclear power generating capacity, and its carbon sinks.